Impatiens plant

ABSTRACT

An impatiens plant known by the cultivar name Milkyway and characterized by its white flowers; variegated foliage; superior self-branching habit; tightly compact and symmetrically mounded growth habit; high floriferousness, and by its relative deterioration under low temperatures.

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar ofImpatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens, and known by thecultivar name Milkyway. The new cultivar was developed by me throughcontrolled breeding in Ashtabula, Ohio. The seed parent was 79-1309-4(Mikkelsen), and the pollen parent was 79-1232-4 (Mikkelsen), both ofwhich are unpatented. Asexual reproduction of terminal or stem cuttingshas shown that the unique features of this new impatiens cultivar arestabilized and are reproduced true to type in successive propagations.

The following characteristics distinguish the new impatiens from bothits parent varieties and other cultivated impatients of this type knownand used in the floriculture industry:

1. A distinctively white New Guinea Impatien that flowers earlier thanRingmaster, a non-patented cultivar developed by Longwood Gardens. Thefoliage is well variegated whereas Ringmaster is nearly solid green.

2. The new cultivar is extremely self-branching, sturdy, tightlycompact, symmetrically mounded and nearly ball-shaped.

3. The flowers appear to be pure white in summer and under high light.During cool weather of autumn a very light pink tint is noticeable aspetals first begin to open. The spur may be pink.

4. The flowers are somewhat more fragile outside than colored hybrids ofNew Guinea Impatiens, but being highly floriferous the cultivar is soonback into blossom after severe weather.

5. The cultivar has potential use in hanging baskets, pot plant use,mass plantings, and specimen plants in the garden. A combinationplanting of Milkyway and Solared is most eye appealing. Solared is animpatiens cultivar of the present inventor having orange-red flowers,and is disclosed in a pending application.

6. In comparison to other Mikkelsen hybrid New Guinea Impatients, theplant and flowers of Milkyway tend to deteriorate earlier under lowtemperatures in Ohio; plants did not survive beyond mid-October afterlow temperature of 2° C.

7. Mid-rib variegation develops red spotting with cool wet weather.

The accompanying colored photograph taken in mid-August in full sunoutside illustrates the overall appearance of Milkyway, with the photobeing a generally top perspective view of the plant and showing thecolors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in a coloredreproduction of this type.

The following is a detailed description of my new impatiens cultivarbased on plants produced under commercial practices in Ashtabula, Ohio.The illustrated specimen was planted outside during the second week ofJune from a 4" pot. By mid-August the single plant measured 50 cm. indiameter and 24 cm. high. Color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Parentage: Mikkelsen seedling 79-1309-4 crossed with Mikkelsen seedling79-1232-4.

Propagation:

(A) Stem cuttings.--15 mm. long will develop to 3-4 cm. in 21-25 days.

(B) Time to initiate root.--8-10 days at 23° C. summer.

Time to initiate root.--12-14 days at 20° C. winter.

(C) Rooting habit.--Very fibrous, dendritic, abundant.

Plant description:

(A) Form.--Symmetrically rounded plant with light red to pink stems;compact, close internoded, self-branching flowering herb.

(B) Habit of growth.--Pink stemmed, self-branching, tightly compactmedium growth rate, well textured round, mounded.

(C) Foliage description.--Dark green variegated, opposite on vegetativeshoots, then occurring in whorls of 5-7 leaves when flowering initiates.(1) Size: 7-8 cm. long by 2-2.5 cm. wide. (2) Shape: Lanceolate, apexacuminate, base acute, young leaves slightly concave, mature leavesreflexing downward at apex. (3) Texture: Topside rugose, undersideglabrous. (4) Margin: Nearly entire, slightly ciliate. (5) Color: Youngfoliage, top side yellow green 147-B; under side yellow green 147-B-C.Mature foliage, top side winter yellow green 147-A, summer darker thanyellow green 147-A; under side yellow green 147-B-C. Basal mid rib,yellow variegation near yellow 16B. (6) Venation: Pinnate.

Flowering description:

(A) Flowering habits.--Flowering occurs progressively around a whorl of5-7 leaves, usually one bloom per leaf. Flowering is continuous withopen flowers and tight buds being present at the same time.

(B) Natural flowering season.--Indeterminate, continuous year around.

(C) Flower bud description.--Ellipsoidal, flowers perfect, 4.5 cm. long,light pink spur with hollow throat originating from dominant sepal;outside of tight buds light pink to nearly colorless, whereas most othercultivars are nearly red when tight.

(D) Flowers borne.--Individual light pink pedicels originating fromwhorl of leaves, pedicels and flower petals are slightly more fragilethan other Mikkelsen New Guinea impatiens hybrids during severe weather,but new flowers develop quickly so the plant is only tattered for a fewdays.

(E) Quantity of flowers.--Flowers per whorl of leaves is average but theplant appears highly floriferous because of prolific self-branchingwhich produces many flowering apices.

(F) Petals.--(1) Shape: Top petal dominant and isolated, nearly square;other four overlapping, heart-shaped and symmetrical. (2) Color: Topside in winter when opening, very light tinge of pink if below 55°, butpure 155-D white under high light and higher temperature during summer;under side white, with tinge of pink at sepals. (3) Number of petals: 5.(4) Size of flowers: 4-5 cm in diameter.

(G) Reproductive organs.--(1) Stamens: Five (5) in number. (a) Anthershape: Hooded, color light green to white. (b) Pollen color: White. (2)Pistils (a) Stigma shape: 5, segmented column, colorless. (b) Style:Colorless. (c) Ovaries: Five (5) in number, celled, 4 mm. beforefertilizing; green in color; capsule explosively dehiscent.

Disease resistance: No adverse disease or insect problems seen to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of impatiens plant known by thecultivar name Milkyway, as described and illustrated, and particularlycharacterized as to uniqueness by its white flowers, variegated foliage,superior self-branching habit, tightly compact and symmetrically moundedgrowth habit, high floriferousness, and by its relative deteriorationunder low temperatures.